Writing Exercise explained

Origins:

I got this exercise originally from Jill Walker, who did it for the Writers Workshop in San Antonio HT00. It can be refined quite a bit, and I have worked with it for many different audiences from primary school kids to writers, from new media folks to people who had never touched a mouse. I have also written an article on how to adapt these to teach connections for developmentally disabled children.

BASIC INGREDIENTS:

Pieces of paper (could be post-its, construction paper, etc.) These will be the "nodes"

1 large posterboard. (Could be cardboard, foam board, etc.) This will be the "hyperspace"

Markers

Different colored thread, ribbons, grass, beer tops, etc. These will be the connections.

EXERCISES

To UNDERSTAND connections:

1) Gather content through a couple of writing exercises (base this on something specific, like a banana or a picture). Have participants write on pieces of paper.

2) Read each other's content

3) Put the pieces of paper on a posterboard. Discuss where they "go" what is in relationship to what. Maybe two pieces are opposite, so they go on opposite sides of the posterboard. Maybe two pieces are connected and they go on top of each other...use your imagination

4) Discuss types of connections and use threads, etc to symbolize these connections.

Build a story using these connections. You can add or subtract content by taking away or adding pages. Have fun.

Explain the hypertext to someone. Make sure that you "take" the reader through different paths, using different starting points and following different connections. What happens to the two stories? How are they alike? Different?

To UNDERSTAND color and backgrounds

Do basically the same thing, only have participants choose a backdrop first. Go to a wallpaper shop and get remnants large enough to substitute for the posterboard. Which pattern will pervade the work? How will the pattern change and color the interpretations of the work?

To UNDERSTAND imagery:

Do basically the same thing, only for the writing exercise, use two images.

1) Write a piece based on the first image.

2) Write a piece based on the second image.

3) Switch images. What happens to the meaning of your writing?

Then with these insights, put these pages and the images on your posterboard and use thread, etc. to connect ideas.

To UNDERSTAND sound contrasts

Do basically the same thing as for images, only add a step. After arranging pages, images and connections, play sounds from a cd (I download these from http://www.flashkit.com, but you can make up any range of sound. Have one light and happy, one dark and thrummy, etc.

Where do the sounds "belong?" talk about the positioning of sound. We don't hear all sounds emanating from the same place at once--the keyboard cicking comes from the keyboard, the rushing of cars comes from out of the window, etc...

How do different sounds change the character of the overall piece? How do they augment, contrast, undercut, support, etc.

To UNDERSTAND time and sequence

Do basically the same thing as for images, only xerox the pages. Now order these in time sequences. Can you find plot sequences? Cause/effect? What elements can time bring to the work?